Hossein Salimi, the chairman of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, said that a mirror chamber of commerce is due to open in Kabul soon and a branch of which will open in Herat simultaneously.
Salimi made the remarks during a meeting on Afghanistan which was hosted by Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ICCIMA).
The meeting was also participated by the director of bilateral and multilateral relations of ICCIMA International Department, Iran’s economic attaché in Afghanistan and some other related officials.
Salimi said that Afghanistan has turned into a strategic destination for Iranian exports over the past few years.
He however referred to last year reduction of bilateral trade with Afghanistan which he said was due to the recent developments in Afghanistan, the fall of the former government, blockade of the country’s foreign assets and a subsequent shortage of foreign currency, lower purchasing power and reduced foreign finances.
Salimi also touched upon the high costs of exports to Afghanistan due to costly transportation and forex transfer, calling on the government to address the issue in an emergency way.
Also speaking during the meeting, Iran’s economic attaché in Afghanistan Hassan Shirzadi said that the Iranian government is expected to cooperate with the private sector to address the problems on the way of expansion of ties with Afghanistan so as to protect Iran’s exports to the country’s most competitive market.
Given Afghanistan’s reduced foreign revenues, Iran can consider overseas farming in Afghanistan and barter trade with the country, particularly in mining areas, he said.